Chapter 9 - Attention
The first day of classes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had come to an end, leaving Cassiopeia and Severus with a pile of homework to tackle. Seeking the quiet solitude of the school library, they settled down at a table tucked away in a corner, their Transfiguration textbooks open before them.
Cassiopeia, her ink-black hair cascading over her shoulders, dipped her quill into the inkpot and began writing with a graceful hand. Severus, his long, shiny hair partially obscuring his face, was engrossed in his own work. They exchanged occasional glances, acknowledging each other's presence but focusing mainly on their assignments.
As they delved deeper into their essays, a soft tap on the table startled them both.
Andromeda Black, Cassiopeia's older cousin, stood there, her expression slightly concerned. "Cassiopeia, may I have a word with you? It's important," she said, her voice hushed.
Cassiopeia glanced up, her blue eyes widening with curiosity. "Of course, Andromeda. Let's go somewhere private," she replied.
Cassiopeia glanced at Severus, her eyes alight with curiosity as she packed up her things. "I'll be back in a bit, Sev," she promised, before disappearing with Andromeda.
Severus watched them leave, a small pang of loneliness settling in his chest. Left alone, Severus found himself the target of hushed whispers and not-so-subtle glances from the other students. Rumors about James and him had spread like wildfire in the school, after all, it wasn't every day someone found their soulmate.
Pushing these thoughts aside, he focused on finishing his essay. The sound of his quill scratching against parchment filled the silence, and he poured his concentration into his work. With meticulous attention to detail, he soon completed the last sentence, his words flowing smoothly across the page.
As he packed up his belongings, preparing to meet Cassiopeia for dinner in the Great Hall, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Snape," it sneered, dripping with disdain. Severus turned to face him, his arrogant sneer immediately irking him. "Where's your partner, Black?"
"She's with Andromeda," he replied curtly, ready to leave.
But Rabastan wasn't done. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, Snape. Just because you found your soulmate doesn't mean you're suddenly important," he taunted.
He smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "Just a friendly warning, Snape. You're walking on thin ice with your association with Potter. It won't end well for you. They're blood traitors."
Severus clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "I suggest you mind your own business, Lestrange. My personal affairs are just that—personal."
Rabastan's smirk widened, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Of course, Snape. It's just a warning. Just remember your place."
Severus clenched his fists, about to retort, when he heard the familiar voices of James, Sirius, Remus, and the new student he had seen earlier that morning. Their jovial laughter filled the corridor as they approached, unknowingly interrupting the tension between Severus and Rabastan.
James Potter, with his unruly hair and confident stride, was the first to notice the scene. "Severus, there you are!" he exclaimed, a friendly smile on his face. "We've been looking for you. We wanted to introduce you to our new friend and dorm mate, Chance Bartholomew."
Rabastan, sensing the shift in attention, scowled and stepped back, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
James paused as he saw the tension in the air between the two. "What's going on here?" James asked, his gaze focused on Rabastan.
"Nothing that concerns you, Potter," Rabastan snapped, but James was having none of it.
"Leave him alone, Lestrange," James warned, stepping between Rabastan and Severus. The rest of the group followed, Sirius and Remus' expressions hardened while Chance seemed rather uncomfortable but stood his ground.
"Or what?" Rabastan challenged.
"Or we'll make you regret it," Sirius threatened, his gray eyes icy. "We have no qualms hexing you or pranking you until you learn your lesson."
Rabastan scoffed but backed off, disappearing into the crowd of students. James turned to me, his hazel eyes filled with concern. "You okay, Sev?"
Severus nodded, grateful for his intervention. "Thanks.." he said, feeling a warmth spread through him.
James extended a friendly hand toward him. "Come on, Sev. Have dinner with us at the Gryffindor table. We'll show you how we do things."
Severus hesitated for a moment, glancing around the library, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cassiopeia returning. But realizing that it might take a while for her conversation with Andromeda to conclude, he nodded and accepted James' invitation.
"Alright," I said, mustering a small smile. "Lead the way."
As they made their way out of the library, Sirius fell into step beside Severus. His gray eyes held a flicker of concern. "Where's Cassy?"
"Andromeda came looking for her, something urgent apparently." Severus answered.
Sirius nodded, his worry easing slightly. "Alright, just wanted to make sure she wasn't in any trouble. Let us know if you guys need any help, okay?"
Severus assured him that he would, and they continued walking through the corridors, the rest of the group following behind them. It was then that Remus took the opportunity to introduce Chance, the new addition to their circle.
"Severus, this is Chance Bartholomew," Remus said, gesturing towards the tall, blonde-haired boy with deep blue eyes. "He's in Gryffindor too, and we've been showing him around."
Chance extended his hand towards Severus with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Severus. Remus and the others have been great. They've made me feel really welcome."
Severus shook his hand, returning the smile. "Likewise, Chance. I'm sure we'll have quite an eventful time at Hogwarts together."
With introductions made, they continued their journey towards the Great Hall while the group told Severus about their morning prank on the professors. The chatter and laughter of students grew louder as they approached, and the tantalizing aroma of food filled the air.
They settled down at the Gryffindor table, the familiar warmth and camaraderie soothing Severus' nerves. Conversations flowed, laughter echoed, and he found himself genuinely enjoying the company of James, Sirius, Remus, and now Chance. His Australian accent is distinct among the British ones.
As they enjoyed their dinner at the Gryffindor table, seated beside James, their conversation naturally revolved around their classes and lessons. It was during their discussion about the History of Magic that a particular topic caught their attention.
"I can't believe my parents didn't tell me anything about the stages!" James exclaimed, feeling betrayed. "Boys can have babies!" his eyes wide with astonishment. "The whole concept is mind-blowing!"
Sirius grinned, his enthusiasm matching James'. "I know, right? The fact that there are different stages of magic and they can even physically enhance one's body… It's incredible! Imagine how much stronger we can get!"
Lily, who had joined us at the table, nodded in agreement. "I always wondered how those marks appeared. Learning about the stages of magic was a revelation. It's like a roadmap to understanding our connections. Even making an infertile person fertile again is just amazing on its own."
James, Sirius, and Lily were engrossed in their conversation, sharing theories and observations about soulmate connections. Their faces lit up with excitement and astonishment, their voices filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.
As dinner at the Gryffindor table was in full swing, Remus and Chance couldn't contain their curiosity any longer. They turned to James and Severus, eager to know if they had already entered the first stage of their soulmate bond.
"Hey, James, Sev," Remus began with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Have you guys started feeling each other's emotions yet? Professor Binns said it's the first stage of the bond."
James perked up at the mention of their bond, unable to hide his excitement. He turned to Severus, a hopeful expression on his face. "Can we try it now? I want to see if it works."
Severus, on the other hand, remained reserved. He glanced at James and shook his head slightly, catching Remus and Chance's attention. "I'm sorry, but I can't feel anything yet," he admitted, his voice reflecting his disappointment. "Maybe it's too early for us. It's only been two days since we sealed the bond."
James felt a pang of disappointment at Severus' response, but he refused to let it dampen his spirits for long. Instead, he saw an opportunity to be physically close to Severus and make the next attempt more successful. With a mischievous grin, he wrapped his arm around Severus' waist and pulled him closer.
"Maybe it'll work if we're physically close," James suggested, his voice filled with a playful optimism. Ignorant of the effect his touch had on Severus, his heart pounding in his chest, James held onto him tightly as he tried to read his emotions.
Severus felt an electric jolt shoot through his body as James hugged him, his heart pounding erratically. Flustered and overwhelmed, he tried to push James away, embarrassed by the attention their embrace was attracting. "Potter, let go," he whispered under his breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure.
But James stubbornly refused, refusing to let go of Severus. Enjoying the contact and the sense of closeness it brought, he squeezed him even tighter. "Not yet," James replied, a playful grin on his face. "I like hugging you."
Severus' cheeks flushed crimson, his heart hammering in his chest. He couldn't deny the effect James had on him, but he was too shy and guarded to admit it openly. "Potter, this is highly improper," he mumbled, trying to regain his composure. "Don't wanna, and it's James," the messy haired boy responded.
Meanwhile, Remus watched their interaction with a sense of helplessness, amusement and a bit of pity for Severus. He knew how reserved and guarded the Slytherin could be, and he hoped that their budding bond would bring happiness to both of them. On the other hand, Chance couldn't help but laugh at the display of affection, finding it endearing and amusing at the same time.
In the background, Lily and Sirius were deep in a discussion about the ancient magic behind soulmate bonds, their excitement evident in their animated gestures and animated voices. But for James and Severus, the dinner table became a world of their own, with James continuing to hold onto Severus, cherishing the intimacy, and Severus struggling to hide the emotions that threatened to burst forth.
Unbeknownst to them, their journey through the stages of their soulmate bond had only just begun, promising a myriad of surprises and challenges that lay ahead.